Beyond the mask: REAPER reveals his artistic identity [INTERVIEW]

July 5, 2024

In this exclusive interview with Exron Music, the enigmatic DJ and producer, REAPER, dives into the creation of his latest album, ‘CHALLENGER.‘

Known for his distinctive mask and high-energy drum and bass anthems, REAPER opens up about the personal journey and creative evolution that shaped this pivotal project. From overcoming a life-changing injury to collaborating with talented artists like Bella Renee, Josh Rubin, and Calivania, he shares the raw emotions and relentless drive behind his music. We also explore how his persona blends irony with inspiration, and what fans can expect from his upcoming CHALLENGER World Tour. Join us as REAPER reveals the passion and precision behind his powerful soundscapes and his vision for the future.

Exron Music: First things, first.. If you could pick one DJ to be president who would you pick?

DJ Diesel, hands down. He is just such a good person, the energy he carries is like no other. He is inspiring on so many levels and he is also just for the people.

Exron Music: You’ve been described as a pivotal figure in the American Drum and Bass resurgence. What drives your passion for this genre?

Honestly, the energy. I love the culture, I like that it’s so inclusive. If you come to a lot of my shows you will see so many different types of people, there is something genuinely inviting about that. When the show is comfortable and everyone is dancing. Very high energy ya know?

Exron Music: We agree, you can always feel a crowd’s energy through how hard they are dancing.

I truly believe there is no real way to dance to drum and bass. You can pick your style, you can just stand there and enjoy it, and you don’t have to be on the rail head banging the whole time.

Exron Music: Being you is just okay. Let’s talk about your persona and mask creating a distinct image. How do they contribute to your artistic identity and the messages you want to convey through your music?

The mask all started with a way for me to attach my brand identity to an aggressive style of music I was making. But it’s like this cast of irony, because I’m a very goofy, heartfelt person, they see this scary image, but REAPER is like not scary at all. You see that with me on stage, I’ll just be messing around, throwing up heart signs and dancing like an idiot. The whole point is to inspire people to break down their walls and not be afraid to be their true selves.

Exron Music: Do you enjoy the opportunity to be able to have the best of both worlds?

Oh yeah, no one knows where I live, I can walk around festivals and no one has any idea who I am. For the most part, no one recognizes me, it’s magical.

Exron Music: ‘CHALLENGER’ seems to be a pivotal project for you. What was the inspiration behind this album, and how does it reflect your growth as an artist?

It started off as a full conceptual project, but that changed after I had my energy last year. I broke my femur and had to get a total hip replacement, about 6 months ago. I went through the whole year in pain. That derailed the inspiration for what I was currently writing and transitioned my focus into writing all songs through my emotions. Frustration, anger, sadness, pain. It became a whole new project about facing adversity. Writing more about self-care and how to take care of yourself when facing obstacles. Every song has a little bit of spice and you can feel that in it.

Exron Music: That’s incredibly powerful. It’s clear that ‘CHALLENGER’ carries a deeply personal and emotional journey. The album features collaborations with artists like Bella Renee, Josh Rubin, and Calivania. How did these collaborations come about, and what did each artist bring to the table?

For most of those collaborations, they already had top lines written on demo tracks on the piano. We went back and forth in the studio over Zoom calls and we completely redeveloped and evolved each song into a REAPER drum and bass anthem. It’s really easy for me to work that way within my workflow because I get to be inspired by their base idea. Then we redesign it to be a perfect mesh between our styles

Exron Music: That sounds like a fascinating collaborative process! It must be rewarding to transform those initial piano demos into high-energy drum and bass anthems. How do you prepare for such an extensive tour, both physically and creatively?

Maintaining a solid sleep schedule is the biggest thing. Exercising as well, right now I do a lot of cycling and walking, I used to lift a lot of weights but my leg limits me to my upper body. Hydration is the next key, I drink like a gallon and a half of water a day. Also mindfulness, basic meditation.

Exron Music: That’s a great regimen! Balancing physical well-being and creative demands must be quite challenging, especially on tour. You’re about to embark on the CHALLENGER World Tour. What can fans expect from this tour in terms of production and setlist?

Everything is going to be a true REAPER set, I am not cutting any corners at all. I am really excited because I am doing some of the markets in Europe I have never done before. I am really excited to just show everyone who supports me across the world what I have been working on.

Exron Music: How do you think CHALLENGER contributes to or differs from your previous albums, ‘RAPTURE’ and ‘DISRUPTOR’?

two things: Emotions and heavy bass. Everything is very vocal-driven. I was really hitting a point where I was meeting songwriting and sound design like a perfect intersection of that. They all work live but are very streamable and that isn’t something you think about when writing the song. I feel like I really executed my vision.

Exron Music: It’s intriguing how you’ve managed to intertwine songwriting and sound design so seamlessly. Well, it was a pleasure chatting with you and dissecting your most recent project. Thank you so much for opening up with us today.

No, thank you! I loved getting to talk about all the hard work I have put into this project and how it has come alive. Take it easy everyone and see you on tour!

Check out REAPER’s new single “SECONDS” with Stace Cadet below!